WET YOUR APPETITE

Massachusetts has Walden Pond. Yosemite has its waterfalls. Minnesota has 10,000 lakes.

We'll admit, they're all impressive. But we have water, too. You just have to work a little harder to get to it.

A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA AND KEITH WHITNEY

PRECEDING PANEL: A lush riparian area on Sycamore Creek offers an inviting view along the Parsons Trail, a hiking route in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. From its trailhead northwest of Cottonwood, this trail follows the creek north for about 4 miles, passing several small pools, before ending at Parsons Spring.

RIGHT: The Colorado River reflects scattered clouds as it flows through Topock Gorge, a mountainous section of the Havasu Wilderness. Covering 17,801 acres in Arizona and California, this wilderness area features volcanic spires and diverse desert wildlife.

Ferns and other foliage grow around a spring in the heart of Central Arizona's West Clear Creek Wilderness. Created in 1984, this wilderness area follows its namesake creek through a deep, rugged canyon full of varied vegetation and geology.